The public access point by the outlet can only accommodate hand-carried crafts
Upper Hadlock Pond covers 35 acres and is located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island (MDI) in Hancock County, Maine (see The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer map 16 C3). Access is via Route 3/198 which runs parallel to the entire western shoreline of the pond. Be aware that you will need a pass to legally park your vehicle anywhere inside the Park, including here. The pass can be purchased on-line or at the visitor center on MDI, among other places. The public launch site by the outlet on Route 3/198 can only accommodate hand-carried crafts, such as a canoe or kayak. Parking is along the road shoulder or a nearby small Park-managed gravel parking lot.
Route 3/198 runs along the western shore of Upper Hadlock Pond and eliminates the “wilderness” experience…
Upper Hadlock Pond is a pretty waterbody framed by Cedar Swamp Mountain, Gilmore Peak, and Little Browns Mountain looming on the eastern horizon. The whole area is deeply forested and crisscrossed by hiking trails. However, do not expect a “remote” setting or “wilderness” experience here because the incessant traffic on Route 3/198 to and from Northeast Harbor will remind you that this area is located on a busy thoroughfare… Shore fishing is possible along the western and southern shoreline early in the season before the aquatic vegetation emerges. In my experience, anglers avoid road-side fishing (for obvious reasons…) and instead focus their efforts along the quieter southern shore.
My redneck depth finder… Crude but it served its purpose!
The pond is stocked each fall with about 700 brook trout, yielding a respectable 20 fish per acre. Those fish that escape the ice-fishing season are available for catching in the spring. The remaining survivors can then continue growing because the water column stratifies in the summer, allowing the trout to seek refuge in the deeper and colder central portion of the pond. As a result, this pond is known to produce larger-than-usual brookies. The spring fishing regulations fall under the general fishing laws applicable to the South Zone, except that it is prohibited to (a) use or possess live fish as bait (dead baitfish, salmon eggs, and worms are allowed),(b) use motorboats over 10 HP, or (c) fish the outlet. Click here for a depth map and additional fisheries details.
This brookie made my afternoon because it got caught based on a predetermined strategy. It is always nice when the plan works out as intended!
Based on the above intel, I decide to focus my fishing efforts on the edges of the deeper “bowl” located in the center of the pond. I printed the depth map for Upper Hadlock Pond and traced out a 20 ft-deep contour line to help me guestimate its position in the pond since I will be fishing without the benefit of an electronic depth finder. I arrive at the access point by 2 pm and quickly ready myself to paddle off in my canoe. The weather is nice, with partly cloudy skies and generous sunshine. Unfortunately, the wind is blowing strongly out of the southeast, which always complicates things… I start trolling using my eight-weight fly fishing rod and reel teamed up with lead-core line placed between my crossed legs. I put two lures (ACME Phoebe spoons, with one tied to the hook of the other by a 2-ft. section of monofilament) two colors down, which I guestimate places them about 12-14 ft. below the surface given the weight of the two lures and my paddling speed. The wind makes it damn hard to fish with any precision along the edge of the bowl without going too shallow and snagging vegetation or wandering off too deep. But my perseverance and efforts pay off because I get a hard hit about 20 minutes later. Yes! It is always exciting when a pre-planned strategy yields results. I fight and net a nice 13″ brookie which is photographed and released. I continue trolling with heightened anticipation but the strong wind quickly exhausts me. I go hide in the wind shadow along the southern shore and spend about 30 minutes using my ultralight spinning rod and reel to toss a #2 Mepps spinner in water 5-10 ft. deep. I find no takers, and my time has run out. Besides, the wind is not relenting and I do not feel like trolling anymore. I nonetheless leave a happy angler because I was not skunked!
The results: I landed one 13″ brook trout in one and a half hours of fishing.
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